FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Metro Non-Profit Housing Picks Up National Award in Ottawa

Halifax, December 8, 2017 - Metro Non-Profit Housing Association of Halifax was presented with the Atlantic Region’s Social Innovator Award on December 5th, at the Canada Volunteer Awards celebration in Ottawa. A prize worth $5,000, this award recognizes not for profit organizations that address social challenges in innovative ways.

Since 1988, the Metro Non-Profit Housing Association of Halifax has been assisting individuals who have been homeless or who are at risk of being homeless to create and maintain their homes. It supports men and women in obtaining and maintaining stable housing and advancing their personal goals.

Metro Non-Profit Housing’s innovative initiative Housing Support Centre has welcomed approximately 100 people on most weekday mornings, and enabled participants to engage with the Community Support Team to access individual support, referrals and access to community resources, as well as offer each other social and peer support. Housing Support Workers also assisted individuals and families in going from homelessness or unstable housing to being housed. Hundreds of interventions offering support services to homeless and at-risk individuals with addictions and mental health issues, tenancy concerns and eviction prevention needs happen each year.

Metro Non-Profit Housing’s Executive Director, Carol Charlebois was in Ottawa for the awards ceremony; she stated, “We are thrilled to be recognized for our good work on a national level. This award will be shared with the community we serve, we are proud of the work we do and it will help us continue to focus on our program participants’ needs.” The award was presented by the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development.

About Canada’s Volunteer Awards (CVA):The program is about recognizing the enormous contributions that volunteers, not-for-profit organizations and businesses across the country make to help people and their communities. The Awards are about people working in partnerships to find new solutions to strengthen our country. The award recipients have been recognized at an award ceremony, and have received a pin and a certificate signed by the Prime Minister.

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For additional information, or to arrange an interview with Metro Non-Profit Housing please contact: Carol Charlebois at (902) 225-8714